Thoughts of the Undrafted

This appears on pba.inquirer.net

Thoughts of the Undrafted

by rick olivares

At the conclusion of the Gatorade PBA Draft at Robinson’s Midtown Place last Sunday night, I walked around the mall a bit looking for a particular shop. While walking around, I bumped into coaches, veteran PBA players, the just drafted, and the undrafted.

It was the latter that I was more interested in; their thoughts and feelings.

A few of them walked around as a group all headed for the parking lot to leave. Some walked around with girlfriends and looked disconsolate.

A couple of them walked over to vent.

Here are the thoughts of one player – and it is pretty much consistent with the feelings of three others I was able to chat with for a while at the mall after the draft -- who spoke with me at 5am Monday. He requested that he remain anonymous. Despite the hurt and pain, he remained hopeful about fulfilling his PBA dream.

This is what he said; word for word. Nothing has been changed or deleted.

Hindi ako nakatulog kagabi. (laughs). Medyo masama loob. (pauses) Bakit ganun? Yung iba wala naman naipakita sa NCAA o UAAP, sa D-League o sa draft combine tapos na draft sila. Hindi ko maintindihan.

Maganda naman ang naipakita ko pero walang pumansin. Pero yung iba samantala anak ng coach o kamag-anak ng coach. Siguro ganyan talaga. Kung sino kilala mo.

Pagkatapos na magpalitan yung Blackwater at Kia ng mga draft pick nila pagkatapos ng second round, nanlalamig na ako. Parang nawalan ako ng gana. Umaasa pa rin pero wala yung inaasahan natin.

Bilang basketbol player gusto ko na pansinin ako pero nung matapos na yung draft ayokong may pumansin sa akin. Parang nakakahiya. Pilit ko magmamadaling makaalis. Syempre alam naman natin na suntok sa buwan yan draft kung hindi ka superstar o galing sa malaking eskwelahan. Lalo na napakadami namin.

Matatanggap ko naman yun pero yung mga huling pick magtataka ka bakit sila? Sino sila?

Hirap kumain pagkatpos. Walang gana. Nahihiya rin ako sa girlfriend ko. Syempre nagbibigay siya ng payo at encouragement pero nahihiya ako kasi parang hindi ko siya naririnig. Malalim lang ang iniisip. Bilang manlalaro iisipin mo na, “hindi ako nakasama doon (sa PBA). Hindi ako kabilang sa mga tawag na sa mga best players sa bansa.”

Syempre naman magtrarabaho tayo. Magtatanong kung may mga nagpapa-tryout. Kung wala ay babalik sa D-League at magpapkita ng kakayahan at sana may pumansin. Magsusumikap ako na makamit yung pangarap ko na makapaglaro sa PBA. Hindi lang naman yan para sa akin at para rin sa magulang ko at sa magiging pamilya ko.

Naalala ko nung sa draft combine nagsalita si Dondon Hontiveros at sinabi niya na kapag hindi ka ma-draft ay magpursige. Pataasin pa yung laro natin. Challenge para sa amin na manlalaro na makabalik.

Ganyan talaga. Syempre. Masakit lang.

After hearing him out, I rattled off some names: Wynne Arboleda, Reed Juntilla, Josh Urbiztondo, Jonathan Uyloan, and Mark Yee to name a few who went undrafted but were able to latch onto a club and get some meaningful playing time while playing quite a few years.

The said player understood and promised to not give up on his dream as he will renew his efforts and try and come back as a better player.